5 best stores for picnic supplies

Our city may be infamously hot and humid all year, but it’s the drier middle months that are ripest for an idle afternoon picnic without it, quite literally, raining on your party. To take your grassy gathering beyond scarfing down bags of potato chips, here are five stores that will help you get a delicious bundle together with minimal fuss.

Balmoral BakeryBest for Asian delights and local pastriesWith its familiar postbox-red signboard and unassuming interior, this HDB bakery has stuck to the same ammo of familiar and well-made pies, puffs and pastries for over 40 years. Must-tries include the mini chicken pies plump with chicken chunks, peas and potatoes, equally-stuffed samosas and char siew sou (barecued pork pastry). Even if you’re not a fastidious sweet-tooth, their custard puffs—airy choux pastry injected with thick, not-too-cloying custard.

Huber’s ButcheryBest for meatsThe family-owned European-style gourmet deli and butcher prepares a range of premium meats flown in from a tightly-curated list of farms. When sliced and plattered, their self-made hams, sausages and cold cuts are particularly convenient for a more sophisticated picnic. Appetite-stirring choices include the chorizo infused with red wine, smoked duck breast and black forest ham.

SuperNatureBest for organic foodThe health-savvy swear by this holistic mega-store for good reason. While prices here are slightly higher than earthbound, the TLC-showing spread that suits every dietary restriction more than justifies. If you’re feeling ambitious in the kitchen, their bulk of fresh, certified-organic vegetables and sustainably farmed (or caught) meat and seafood will have every recipe covered. Otherwise, fill your basket with preservative-free juices, organic corn chips, and egg and gluten-free breads and sweet stuff.

Two Blur GuysBest for a tea-time spreadAside from their heftier offering of juicy burgers designed by chef Jimmy Chok (formerly of Bistro Soori), this hole-in-the-wall cafe also churns out an assortment of freshly baked treats daily, and at agreeable prices too. Point out your choice nibbles—we recommend their brownies, English-style chicken pies, carrot cake slices and crumbly raisin scones—to be boxed up and whisked away to your alfresco feast.

Firmly believing in dancing like nobody’s watching, freelance writer Faith Chan feeds off and reports on Singapore’s music and nightlife scene, with a particularly strong passion for homegrown bands. Away from the gig arena, she finds joy in introspective conversations over a cuppa or pint, and sharing ridiculous internet finds with friends.

Nestled away at the shophouses along Bukit Pasoh Road, The Clan Restaurant offers a modern European dining experience with a fusion twist within a sprawling two-storey dining area that exudes chic modernity and elegance. A 6-course tasting menu of French-Japanese fare starts at an incredibly affordable $62.80++.